4901:1-18-05
Extended payment plans and responsibilities.

(A)
Upon contact by a customer whose account
is delinquent or who desires to avoid a delinquency, the utility company shall
inform the customer that it will make reasonable extensions or other extended
payment plans appropriate for both the customer and the utility company. If the
customer proposes payment terms, the utility company may exercise discretion in
the acceptance of the payment terms based upon the account balance, the length
of time that the balance has been outstanding, the customer's recent payment
history, the reasons why payment has not been made, and any other relevant
factors concerning the customer including health, age, and family
circumstances.

(B)
If the customer
fails to propose payment terms acceptable to the utility company, the utility
company shall then advise the customer of the availability of all of the
following extended payment plans and the percentage of income payment plan
plus (PIPP plus).
If a customer requests additional information about PIPP
plus, the utility company shall inform the
customer of the eligibility requirements as set forth in paragraphs (B) and (C)
of rule
4901:1-18-12 of the
Administrative Code (gas PIPP plus) or to Chapter
122:5-3 of the Administrative Code (electric PIPP plus), and provide the customer with a copy of PIPP
plus literature and direct the customer to the
local community action agency:

(1)
One-sixth
plan - A plan that requires six equal payments on the
past due
balances in addition to full payment of the current bill.

(2)
One-ninth plan - A plan that requires
nine equal monthly payments on the past due
balances in addition to a budget payment plan for the projected monthly
bills, which will end nine months from the initial payment. The budget portion
of the payments may be adjusted periodically during the nine-month period as
needed.

(3)
Winter heating season
plan - In addition to the one-sixth and one-ninth plans in this paragraph,
during the winter heating season, the utility company shall offer to any
customer not already on a payment plan, the
one-third payment plan for any bills that include any usage occurring from
November first to April fifteenth of each year. The one-third plan requires
payment of one-third of the balance due each month ( past due
balances plus the current bill). For any outstanding balance remaining
after the last one-third bill has been rendered, the utility company shall
remove the customer from the one-third payment plan and shall offer the
customer the option to pay the balance, or to enter into one of the other plans
in this paragraph, or to enroll in PIPP plus,
provided that he/she meets the qualifications for that PIPP
plus plan.

(C)
A customer who is in default on an
agreed-upon extended payment plan in paragraph (A) of this rule shall be
offered the payment plans in paragraph (B) of this rule and PIPP
plus, provided that he/she meets the
qualifications for that plan. A customer who is in default on one of the
extended payment plans in paragraph (B) of this rule shall be offered PIPP
plus, provided that he/she meets the
qualifications for the PIPP plus plan. If a
customer is having difficulty complying with any payment plan and requests that
the utility company review that payment plan, the utility company may agree to
modify the payment plan to meet both the customer's and utility company's
needs.

(D)
For customers without
arrearages, the utility company shall also offer a budget plan (a uniform
payment plan).

(E)
If a customer
informs the utility company of a medical problem, the utility company shall
inform the customer of the medical certification program as provided in
paragraph (C) of rule
4901:1-18-06 of the
Administrative Code.

(F)
A
customer's failure to make any payment under one of the payment plans in
paragraph (B) of this rule or PIPP plus shall
entitle the utility company to disconnect service in accordance with the
procedures set forth in rule
4901:1-18-06 of the
Administrative Code.

(G)
The
utility company shall advise the customer, who enters into an extended payment
plan, that it will provide the customer with the terms of the plan in writing.
The utility company shall also advise the customer that failure to make a
payment under the extended payment plan may result in the disconnection of
service in accordance with the procedures set forth in rule
4901:1-18-06 of the
Administrative Code.

(H)
No utility
company shall charge late payment fees to customers that are current on the
payment plans identified in paragraph (A) or (B) of this rule or PIPP
plus.